Samjhauta arrives with 22-kg heroin

A day after the Border Security Force (BSF) seized 14 kg of heroin following an encounter with Pakistani smugglers, the Samjhauta Express from Lahore arrived with 22 kg of heroin worth R110 crore.

The seizure was made by the Customs department during checking at the Amritsar railway cargo terminal.

Not only the smugglers sent 22 Kg heroin packed inside a green coloured bag but also a seal of the Pakistani Customs Authority.

Detailing about the seizure, Deputy Commissioner Customs, Vijay Bahadur said, "Already the vigil was high. When the Samjhauta Express a goods wagon attached with the Samjhauta Express, a green coloured bag was spotted in it. Soon this bag was checked and 22 kg heroin along with a new seal of the Pakistani Customs Department was found in it. The train had come to India on Monday and was checked this morning."

As soon as the seizure was made, we conducted a preliminary test that confirmed that the drug was heroin. Later it will be sent for final testing, he added.

Out of the 22 packets seized from the Samjhauta Express, 16 packets hand a brand written in Urdu 'Spain Gamra' and 6 packets had 'Khaibar Pakhtun' on it.

The Customs authorities claimed that the seal of the Pakistani Customs authority found inside the bag had a matching number with the one that was found hanging outside the lock of the wagon.

"Definitely somebody had put it intentionally. The accused must have planned to firstly break open the wagon seal and then lock it with seal found in the bag after taking away consignment. This is second instance in the recent times and we will take up this matter with the Pakistani Counterparts, said Deputy Commissioner Customs Vijay Bahadur.

The bag was found in the wagon that contained various items such as Leather, crockery and other miscellaneous items.

Answering a question, Customs Official said, "We will definitely probe this matter in detail. We will raise with the Pakistani authorities that how this consignment was sneaked into the wagon."

Since there is almost no security of the Railway Cargo terminal, the Customs Authority claimed that they have repeatedly raised the issue with the issue with railways but nothing has happened.